SEACLIFF FIRE INQUIRY

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23849, 19 January 1943, Page 4

SEACLIFF FIRE INQUIRY

EVIDENCE OF NURSES

INVESTIGATIONS Xt HOSPITAL

(P A.) DUNEDIN, January 18. The commission to investigate the Seacliff Mental Hospital fire, in which 37 patients perished, heard the evidence of nursfes, firemen, and a police officer when it resumed to-day. The commission ’ comprises Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M. (chairman), Miss J. A. Tomlinson (Lady Superintendent of the Dunedin Hospital), and Superintendent F. G. Laidlaw (of the Dunedin Fire Brigade). The inquiry is expected to occupy three days, and the commission will report before March 1. Sub-Matron Annie Catherine Little said that when i she and two nurses visited the ware just after 8 p.m. nothing unusual was visible, and the patients were all m bed. The mattresses were straw covered with waterproof sheeting. The patients had no chance of obtaining matches and witness had never known any to be found smoking in bed; The patients in this ward were assisted in dressing which minimised the chance of concealing matches. Edna Ward, the charge nurse, stated that about 9.45 on the night of the fire she was at the back of Ward 1 and thought she smelt burning. She sent another nurse to investigate and went to from which she saw Ward 5 on fire. She set off the alarms and proceeded to the burning ward. She found it impossible to enter and she helped to evacuate patients from other wards. Radio Not Functioning Eileen McEvoy, a nurse, said she had been told by a patient on the afternoon of December 8 that the radio was not functioning, and witness tried to adjust it, but did not succeed. She pulled out the plug and then reported the matter, according to practice. Gladys Yvonne Blythe, a nurse, said that it was the duty of the night nurse to visit Ward 5 each hour. At 9.20 witness went through the wooden portion of Ward 5 and there was no sign of fire or a smell of smoke or of tobacco. Mavis McKenzie Boyd, a nurse, said she began her observation round at 8.50 and was in Ward 5 for about five minutes, both upstairs and downstairs, making a proper inspection. All appeared to be in order. She left the wooden portion of the building approximately at 9, returning to her mess room until relieved by Nurse Blythe at 9.20. Witness went past the wooden portion of Ward 5, but saw nothing unusual. Kathleen Blackmore, office assistant, said that on returning from the Seacliff township’ between 9.30 and 9.40 she passed Ward 5 on the way to the nurses’ home. She saw nothing unusual. A strong wind was blowing. Subsequently, she went to her bedroom. It was about 9.50 by her watch and she had just got there when she heard the alarm. Rescue of Patient Arthur Driscoll, an attendant at the hospital, said he was captain of the fire brigade. When he observed the fire, flames were right through the roof and the front portion was falling in. He tried the south end door to see if he could get in to save anyone, but it was impossible because of the flames. He did not hear anyone calling out, but observed a window where there were no flames. He pulled a grating cT with his hatchet and as he reached a woman who was inside, her nightdress and bed jacket caught alight, but he brushed the flames out. Witness said he formed the opinion that there was no chance of saving the building, and he concentrated his efforts on attempting to prevent the fire from spreading. At one stage there were four leads of hose on the fire, the pressure being about 501b to the square inch. He considered the equipment operated efficiently. Detective-Sergeant Gibson gave evidence as to investigations carried out at the hospital. He said it was impossible to ascertain how or where the fire commenced. The most likely theory was that it was due to some electrical cause and to earth movements. The flickering of the lights and all the circumstances pointed that way. He had had the fullest co-operation and assistance from every member of the staff in carrying out his investigations. Mr F. B. Adams, who appeared f6r the Mental Hospitals Department: Was there anything to suggest that any member of the staff had been remiss in his or her duties? Witness: No. The suggestions were to the contrary. Fire Fighting Appliances Leslie Roy Joseph Osmond, deputysuperintendent of the Dunedin Metropolitan Fire Brigade, said he had made an inspection of the fire appliances at the institution. The quantity of water available was only fair, and its rate and pressure of delivery were not sufficient to give the hard-hitting jets so necessary where a fire of bigger proportions than an ordinary cottage fire developed. Witness said the alarm system, with the exception of the Vigilant portion, was not efficient, as it depended on the human element for its operation. The indicator board should be in the fire station, which would save time in receiving messages. “In the layout of the buildings there are a number of distinct fire hazards,” witness continued. “First, there is an amount of wooden construction which in an institution of this nature naturally presents a distinct risk. This could also apply to the main building, because the interior is composed mostly of combustible material, although the exterior is of brick and plaster. Added to this the age of a number of the buildings would be a factor in the event of fire. “The nature of the occupancy is also a problem as it necessarily requires the locking of practically all the doors where the patients are of a more advanced type.” continued witness. “At night time the locking of the doors and shuttering of the windows presents a most difficult problem, and one that has to be considered from all angles. There were some bad features in regard to the direction in which some of the doors opened, and this applied especially to the theatre and to a number of the corridors. Alternative means of escape were fairly well provided for.” > Movement of Building Witness said the cause of the recent fire could only be surmised. He had inspected the building which had moved from its original position, and he was convinced that this movement in the building could cause an electrical fault, although if this did occur the fuses on the switchboard would blow, thus deadening the circuit affected. The personnel of the brigade consisted of the officer in charge and all the attendants who were able to leave their patients and assist. “This method of staffing the brigade is very chancy,” said witness, “and does not tend to create efficiency.” He added that his inspection revealed that the equipment was in fairly good condition. He considered the quality of the hose provided as not above sec-ond-class. while a quantity of it could only be graded as third-class. The equipment available and the method of staffing the brigade could be suitable for dealing only with small and medium-sized fires.

Mr Adamsi It might well be, even with additional equipment, that nothing could have been done to save Ward 5 on this occasion? Witness; That is so. .1 would definitely recommend an automatic fire alarm system. If it were properly cared for there should not be a great number of false alarms.

The commission adjourned until tomorrow.